Training Camp: On-Ice Sessions Day 2

I didn’t watch any of the drills and instead took in more of the scrimmages today. Here are the notes for the second day of training camp:

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Colborne has put on some weight weight and additions in strength have improved puck protection as well as more resilience to being knocked off the puck .. put puck carrying skills on display, with uncanny connection to it .. quicker and more confident .. rushes defensemen into making hurried plays/decisions with calculated pressure .. played alongside Frattin and MacArthur as a line after Mikhail Grabovski and Nik Kulemin were allowed to attend services for Igor Korolev, killed in the plane crash carrying Locomotiv .. MacArthur replace Joey Crabb who was there on Day 1 and itâ€™s an interesting choice that he was the one removed from the line, and perhaps a glimpse at a future Marlies pairing in the making â€“ assuming Kadri sticks in the NHL out of camp .. Joey Crabb stick prep is exemplary and the Marlies staff should point this out to Colborne and show him tape.

Gunnarsson for some unexplained reason turned his back and used his rump to pin Kessel .. I secretly wonder if heâ€™s on the bubble for a spot and now has Jesse Blacker and Jake Gardiner making an AHL run up the depth chart .. Liles is vocal, likes barking out there, paired with Schenn looks like a formidable pairing .. Josh Leivo lacks elite first two-step quickness .. Phillipe Dupuis has a bullet wrist shot, quick release with little room.

Frattin repeatedly tried to muscle his way to the inside and to the goal, a positive sign for a goal scorer to try to get to the net which will improve with added strength .. made generally good decisions .. showed a good separation gear upon puck retrieval and in for a breakaway.

Puck protection has improved from Bozak .. visibility on Gardiner is increased today, with in-tight puck handling skills and aggressively jumping into the play, more involved in the rush and in the offensive zone .. still needs to reign in some enthusiasm when rushing and forcing plays that arenâ€™t there, resulting in breakdowns .. Schenn overplayed the puck on a few occasions getting into trouble â€“ where Liles covered up quite nicely .. Liles put on a better display of his skating ability today especially getting back into the play fast upon an offensive breakdown .. also displayed a defensive-first approach forcing breakdowns and quick transition .. Kadri standing still trying to defened using his stick is easily burned .. caught Komisarek puck watching and less physically involved.

Armstrong was not as intense as Day 1 .. also showing somewhat on the line as their energy is dampened .. Connolly showed defensive awareness backing up positions when defensemen join the rush .. still somewhat quiet showing for Lupul, showed some qualities of improved quickness and arm/stick strength .. overhandling the puck a lot today, not using outlets as he normally would in game situations.

Sam Carrick has been quietly effective this camp, not flashy, but solid .. was hoping to see Marcel Mueller go full out and he has, although he hasnâ€™t distinguished himself much so far in camp .. sometimes stretches himself out too long to be a good option .. displayed improved puck handling skills .. Connolly doesnâ€™t have a very hard shot, lacks some zip so being a point man would be more geared toward playmaking, not the shot .. this is likely a second unit option with perhaps Dion Phaneuf, or Cody Franson being the shooters.